Start by contacting Veteran Services at 843.863.7050 or emailing veterans@csuniv.edu.

While we can make an educated guess on which benefit you may be eligible for, the Department of Veterans Affairs Determines Eligibility of VA Education Benefits using Social Security Number per 38 U.S.C. 3471 Title38, United States Code.

Apply for education benefits here.

Once you submit your application electronically, there will be a confirmation page informing you that it will take the VA approximately 30 days to make a determination. Once a determination has been made, the VA will notify the applicant by sending a letter in the mail. This letter is called a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

It will be the student’s responsibility to notify the school of their intention to use benefits. The COE will state that it is your responsibility to notify the school of your choice about intended benefit use.

CHAPTER 30:
You are eligible for Chapter 30 VA Educational Benefits if you paid in $1200.00.

If you have never used your benefit, you will need to fill out a VA Form 1990 (obtained through CSU Veterans Services Coordinator’s Office), or apply online at www.gibill.va.gov by using VONAPP. In addition to your application you will need to submit copies of page 4 of your DD214s, and if you paid in an additional $600.00 you will need to submit a copy (or copies) of pay sheets showing the total additional amount. Sometimes it’s easier to submit everything through the CSU Veterans Services Coordinator, that way Atlanta receives it submitted as a packet with your first certification. First-time users can expect a 60-90+ day wait in receiving benefit, but Atlanta will pay retro to day classes start. Under Chapter 30, veteran has to verify his/her enrollment at the end of each month, or the first few days of the following month. Verify either online using WAVE or call 1-888-GIBILL1. This will release your check.

Under Chapter 30 you have 10 years from the date of your discharge (honorable) to use your benefits. The last semester you are in classes even if you have only 1 day of eligibility left, this chapter will pay for the entire semester.

If you are transferring from another college you will need to fill out a VA Form 1995. Since you will already be in Atlanta’s system you should be paid at the beginning of the month following the month you attended classes. You will have to verify using WAVE.

CHAPTER 1606:
You are eligible for Chapter 1606 VA Educational Benefits if you are currently drilling or are in the active reserves.
If you have never used your Chapter 1606 VA Educational Benefits, you will need to fill out a VA Form 1990 (available through CSU Veterans Services Coordinator’s Office), or apply online at www.gibill.va.gov by using VONAPP. In addition you will need to submit your Notice of Basic Eligibility form (available from your unit). First-time users can expect a 60-90+ day wait in receiving benefit, but Atlanta will pay retro to day classes start. Under Chapter 1606, veteran has to verify his/her enrollment at the end of each month, or the first few days of the following month. Verify either online using WAVE or call 1-888-GIBILL1.

CHAPTER 31:
You may be eligible for Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) if you have a service-related disability rating.
You will need to make an appointment with VA Voc Rehab located at 4600 Goer Drive, Suite 110, North Charleston, SC 29406, or call 843-740-9114 and speak to a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. For more information go to benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/eligibility_and_entitlement.asp on your website. Under this chapter, certification is approximately two weeks before start of class.

Please make sure that you register for classes early if you plan to use your benefit.

CHAPTER 33:
For most current information on the Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) please go here.

CHAPTER 35:
If you are the spouse or child of a veteran who is either deceased, or 100 percent totally and permanently disabled due to a service connected injury or disease that was incurred or aggravated during active military service, you may be eligible for Chapter 35 VA Educational Benefits.

A spouse may elect the effective date from the time of notification. Period of eligibility expires 10 years from date of election. A child can establish his/her eligibility between their 18th and 26th birthday. A child may elect effective date, notification date or any date in between. Period of eligibility expires eight years from date of election.

At CSU (a private college) if you are receiving VA Educational Benefits, you will receive a check each month from VA prorated based on number of days per month you are in class.

If you attend a state-supported college, all tuition is paid. You should receive a letter from the state saying that you are eligible to attend a state college. It is good only at a state college.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

If you enroll early, and don’t make any unnecessary changes, you can expect your pay in a timely manner. After the initial VA application process, if you continue in class, your pay will come automatically (after you verify if you are under Chapter 30,or Chapter 1606.

As a veteran student, you are eligible to receive Direct Deposit under Chapter 30, Chapter 33, and Chapter 1606.

You are eligible for the VA Work-Study Program if you are attending at least 3/4 time. You can check with the Veterans Services Coordinator for a list of places that use VA Work-Study students.

Head to ask.va.gov or call (888)442-1551.

Visit the VA GI Bill Rates page here.

TA or Tuition Assistance is available to military members while in-service. It is available through your base Education Office. You are encouraged to use TA as long as you are in-service. If you make changes in your classes, etc., be sure to let your Education Office know.

You have to apply to use your VA Educational Benefits by going to www.gibill.va.gov, click on apply and that takes you to VONAPP. Fill out application online, or visit CSU’s Veterans Services Office located in Hunter Center. You can also request an application, or Change In Place In Training form by emailing veterans@csuniv.edu. Be sure to include your name, mailing address, VA Chapter and your major.

If you are a dependent of a veteran, you are not eligible for VA Educational Benefits unless he is 100 percent totally and permanently disabled or deceased from a service related injury or disease that was incurred or aggravated during active military service. If veteran is eligible for Chapter 33 VA Educational Benefits he/she may transfer those benefits to spouse or child. If still in-service the veteran would need to get in touch with Finance Office on their military base to complete proper forms.

Yes, the Vet Center is set up to help returning service members adjust to being back in the states. Counselors have experienced some of the same things you may have experienced while serving in another country. The Vet Center is located on Rivers Ave. in North Charleston. You can call 843-747-8387 to make an appointment.

There is no cost for this service to our veterans who have given so much. Charleston Southern University also offers free counseling. The Counseling Center on campus is located in Russell West. You can call 843-863-8010 and leave a short message along with your name and number or visit their page here.

There will be a CSU Benefits Authorization Form that will need to be completed and returned in order for Veteran Services to report your enrolment.

For the CSU Veterans Services office to certify and submit your schedule to the VA, we will need to receive a Benefits Form-Returning Students each semester. If we do not receive a signed authorization, we will not be able to submit your schedule to the VA for payment.

Veteran Services will send out reminder emails about the form when the time comes.

• • For Post 9/11 (CH 33):
    • The VA pays the school directly for tuition and course fees. Please keep in mind all other expenses charged by Charleston Southern University are the responsibility of the student. This could include:
      • Housing
      • Meal Plans
      • Parking Pass
  • For Dependents’ Education Assistance (DEA-CH35):
    • The VA only pays a monthly housing allowance directly to the student. Please keep in mind all other expenses charged by Charleston Southern University are the responsibility of the student. This could include:
    • Tuition & course fees
    • Housing
    • Meal Plans
    • Parking Pass
  • For Montgomery G.I. Bill®-Active Duty (CH30) or Selected Reserves (CH1606):
    • The VA only pays a monthly housing allowance directly to the student. Please keep in mind all other expenses charged by Charleston Southern University are the responsibility of the student.
  • For Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E-CH 31):
    • VR&E pays very similar to Post 9/11; however, eligible veterans must complete the
    • process through their Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC).
    • They should contact that office first at: 803-719-2950.
    • Once approved, the VRC will send documents to Veteran Services, notifying the approval. Charleston Southern will invoice VR&E for tuition and fees.
    • Students are responsible for turning in book receipts for reimbursement to tcoffelt@csuniv.edu. To find receipts, log into your MyCSU and click on the Campus Bookstore (Slingshot) link to print out receipts.

For all applicable chapters, monthly housing allowances will be paid on the last day of the month during the semester. No payments will be made for time that students are not in school. To find MHA rates, click here and type in ‘Charleston Southern University’.

• Once Veteran Services receives your benefits authorization form, provided that your schedule is finalized, your hours will be reported to the VA.
  • For Post 9/ll students, hours will be reported first. Then after the last add/drop date, tuition and fees will be reported. The 2-step process lessens the chance of student debt if changes are made to their schedule during that time.
  • For VR&E, once the hours are reported, the VRC will receive an invoice from the school on your behalf. That invoice will be paid once hours and program of study has been verified by VRC.
  • For all other chapters, once your schedule is finalized, your hours will be reported to the VA Education Office. Any changes to your schedule that change your enrollment to or from full-time status will be reported.

Dropped courses or withdrawals need to be reported to Veteran Services immediately, as this could result in a debt or overpayment.

• Monthly Housing Allowance—sent directly to the student
• Books and Supplies Stipend—sent directly to the student
• Tuition & course related fees—sent directly to the school

Enrollment verification is a new requirement for Post-9/11 GI Bill students to verify that they have remained enrolled in the same courses or training every month. More information is listed here.

To streamline the process, VA is providing the option to verify enrollment easily and securelyvia text message.

• If you served on active duty for less than 36 months, you’re not eligible for the full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit. Find out what percentage of the full benefit you’re eligible for based on the amount of time you served on active duty:
  • Between 30 months and 36 months:90% of the full benefit
  • Between 24 months and 30 months:80% of the full benefit
  • Between 18 months and 24 months:70% of the full benefit
  • Between 6 months and 18 months:60% of the full benefit
  • Between 90 days and 6 months:50% of the full benefit (per va.gov)

When your enrollment is reported, the VA will send a COE, explaining how your benefits work. It will also inform you how much to expect for your books and supplies stipend, housing allowance along with how much entitlement you have remaining AFTER the semester that was recently reported.

Students can also call the VA Education Office at (888)442-4551 to speak with a representative that will be able to answer that question for you.

Service members using Post 9/11 can log into their va.gov accounts to see how much entitlement they have remaining.

Call the VA Education Office at 1.888.442.4551 to change your banking info.

If you do not have access to the internet or a phone, you can update your direct deposit information with Standard Form 1199a.

According to Military.com, if you are failing a class miserably, just keep taking it and finish it with a failing grade. The VA will pay you to take that class again,if it is needed for graduation. Sure, it will lower your GPA, but you might learn something that will help you get a better grade when you retake it.

The easy way to remember it is: if the class counts towards your GPA (no matter how bad the grade is) the VA will pay for it. You can take the class as many times as necessary and get paid each time. However, if you drop or withdraw from a class, the grade will not count towards your degree and in the eyes of the VA you aren’t due any money for it.

Dependents of 100% permanently & totally disable veterans may be eligible for free tuition at public universities and technical colleges in the state of South Carolina. Click here for eligibility requirements and application.